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The "Industry Target Steer" recognition program was initiated by the Virginia Cattle Feeder Association to help the industry focus in on the type of cattle demanded. The program recognizes finished steers in either junior livestock shows or the Virginia Retained Ownership program which meet a minimum set of standards for both growth and carcass performance. The standards serve as guidelines for the type of cattle producers need to be breeding and feeding.

The carcass standards for the program are the result of the information gathered in the 1995 National Beef Quality Audit. To qualify for "Industry Target Steer" status, the steer's carcass must meet each of the criteria below as well as put on at least 3.0 pounds per day while on feed. The performance standards of the program are aimed at the needs of the cattle feeder, packer, and consumer.

Industry Targets

Average daily gain on feed

3.0 lb. or greater

Carcass weight

625 - 850 lb.

Back fat thickness

.5 inch or less

Ribeye area

12.0 to 16.0 sq. inches

USDA Yield Grade

less than 3.0

USDA Quality Grade

Choice - or better

The standards may look relatively easy to achieve, but requiring that each of the carcass goals be met while still achieving 3 pounds per day feedlot gain has proven difficult. Of the 271 steers consigned to the Virginia ROP program and harvested during 1998, only 75 head or roughly 27% qualified. The 1998 numbers do compare favorably with the 1997 total of only 9% and speaks favorably of the sorting program at Decatur County Feed Yard where the ROP steers are currently being fed.

1997-98 Virginia R.O.P. "Industry Target" Steers

ROP Consignor

County

ROP Tag

Hide Color

Avg. Daily Gain

Age (Mos.)

Carc. Wt.

Back Fat (in.)

Ribeye Area (sq. in.)

Yield Grade

Grade

Charlie Abercrombie

Pittsylvania

247

White

4.00

18.3

838

0.16

13.0

2.01

Choice -

Charlie Abercrombie

Pittsylvania

248

White

4.18

18.1

809

0.17

14.2

1.56

Choice -

Charlie Abercrombie

Pittsylvania

312

White

3.40

15.8

835

0.13

14.3

1.62

Choice -

Benfield Farm

Augusta

361

Black

5.30

12.0

725

0.41

12.1

2.92

Choice -

Benfield Farm

Augusta

362

Gray

3.42

14.8

804

0.12

12.1

2.19

Choice -

Charlie Clark

Smyth

403

Gray

3.10

14.7

769

0.14

12.3

2.04

Choice -

Charlie Clark

Smyth

404

Gray

3.60

15.8

828

0.13

12.4

2.19

Choice -

Charlie Clark

Smyth

409

Black

3.97

13.1

757

0.12

12.1

2.01

Choice -

Charlie Clark

Smyth

411

Gray

3.35

14.7

725

0.15

13.9

1.38

Choice

Charlie Clark

Smyth

413

Black

3.76

14.0

689

0.40

12.3

2.68

Choice -

Charlie Clark

Smyth

414

Gray

3.24

13.8

731

0.15

12.5

1.80

Choice -

Jerry Engh

Prince William

278

Red

3.77

17.5

733

0.13

12.7

1.74

Choice -

Jerry Engh

Prince William

282

Red

3.32

16.4

695

0.15

13.4

1.44

Choice -

Frankford Farm

Clarke

170

Black

3.66

17.1

755

0.46

13.5

2.59

Choice

Frankford Farm

Clarke

171

BWF

3.52

15.8

722

0.39

13.7

2.44

Choice -

Dave Gardner

Floyd

322

BWF

3.14

15.0

746

0.14

12.2

1.95

Choice -

Dave Gardner

Floyd

323

BWF

4.23

14.3

831

0.13

13.3

1.92

Choice -

Dave Gardner

Floyd

324

Black

3.98

12.7

746

0.46

12.9

2.77

Choice -

Dave Gardner

Floyd

326

Black

4.28

13.3

719

0.44

12.7

2.77

Choice -

Dave Gardner

Floyd

331

BWF

3.79

14.7

834

0.40

13.8

2.75

Choice -

Rob Harrison

Albemarle

163

Black

4.52

14.2

738

0.37

13.6

2.47

Choice -

Rob Harrison

Albemarle

164

Black

3.88

17.2

777

0.42

13.2

2.77

Choice -

Rob Harrison

Albemarle

165

Black

3.77

16.2

720

0.16

14.9

1.08

Choice -

Rob Harrison

Albemarle

167

Black

5.14

16.9

798

0.38

12.9

2.95

Choice -

Rob Harrison

Albemarle

332

Black

3.73

14.6

699

0.27

12.0

2.38

Choice -

Rob Harrison

Albemarle

334

Black

5.50

12.2

707

0.41

12.8

2.62

Prime

Rob Harrison

Albemarle

339

Black

3.49

12.3

627

0.40

12.5

2.28

Choice -

Rob Harrison

Albemarle

341

Black

4.13

14.1

834

0.40

13.2

2.95

Prime

Rob Harrison

Albemarle

342

Black

3.75

14.6

783

0.12

13.4

1.69

Choice CAB

Scott Heslep

Rockbridge

472

Black

4.12

16.9

713

0.45

13.1

2.53

Choice -

Scott Heslep

Rockbridge

483

Black

3.69

16.2

777

0.36

13.0

2.59

Choice -

Scott Heslep

Rockbridge

485

Black

4.08

16.9

759

0.41

13.2

2.68

Choice -

Hounshell Farms

Wythe

316

BWF

3.10

15.3

756

0.14

13.8

1.50

Choice -

Hounshell Farms

Wythe

317

BWF

3.09

15.1

827

0.13

12.9

2.04

Choice -

Hounshell Farms

Wythe

319

Black

4.16

14.1

788

0.12

12.8

1.89

Choice -

Hounshell Farms

Wythe

320

Gray

4.02

14.6

759

0.12

12.3

1.95

Choice -

Huntland Farm

Loudoun

285

Black

4.19

17.9

788

0.12

13.4

1.71

Choice -

Huntland Farm

Loudoun

286

Black

4.81

17.7

825

0.19

14.6

1.53

Choice -

Huntland Farm

Loudoun

289

Black

5.08

16.2

729

0.39

15.3

1.96

Choice -

Huntland Farm

Loudoun

290

Black

5.45

17.1

824

0.15

13.2

1.95

Choice -

Huntland Farm

Loudoun

291

Black

4.68

17.4

840

0.12

13.2

1.95

Choice

Huntland Farm

Loudoun

292

Black

6.04

15.5

713

0.16

12.7

1.65

Choice -

Knight Cattle Co.

Madison

441

Black

3.23

16.8

779

0.41

12.8

2.89

Choice -

Maymont Farm

Rockingham

448

Black

3.40

15.5

729

0.44

13.1

2.68

Choice -

Maymont Farm

Rockingham

452

Black

4.01

16.4

833

0.42

15.1

2.38

Choice -

Maymont Farm

Rockingham

453

Black

4.05

15.6

746

0.15

13.4

1.62

Choice -

Maymont Farm

Rockingham

456

Black

3.58

14.1

677

0.14

12.5

1.62

Choice -

Maymont Farm

Rockingham

460

Black

3.91

16.0

768

0.16

14.5

1.38

Choice -

Maymont Farm

Rockingham

462

Gray

4.07

16.4

826

0.43

15.2

2.35

Choice -

Maymont Farm

Rockingham

466

Black

4.29

17.0

758

0.40

12.5

2.89

Choice CAB

Maymont Farm

Rockingham

470

Black

4.14

14.5

731

0.44

12.2

2.97

Choice +

Jerry McCoy

Rockbridge

243

Gray

4.02

17.3

690

0.13

14.0

1.17

Choice -

Jerry McCoy

Rockbridge

244

Black

4.00

18.3

715

0.16

12.3

1.77

Choice -

Jerry McCoy

Rockbridge

377

RWF

4.09

14.4

815

0.43

12.9

2.95

Choice -

Jerry McCoy

Rockbridge

378

BWF

4.07

15.9

834

0.11

12.0

2.31

Choice -

Jerry McCoy

Rockbridge

383

Black

4.40

14.0

784

0.40

12.2

2.98

Choice -

Jerry McCoy

Rockbridge

385

Gray

3.72

14.2

770

0.14

12.6

1.95

Choice -

Jerry McCoy

Rockbridge

387

Black

3.55

15.8

783

0.12

12.9

1.86

Choice -

Jerry McCoy

Rockbridge

392

Black

3.93

15.7

847

0.14

13.5

1.95

Choice -

Joe Meek

Pulaski

424

Black

3.29

828

0.14

14.2

1.65

Choice -

Joe Meek

Pulaski

426

BWF

3.68

834

0.36

13.3

2.71

Choice -

Joe Meek

Pulaski

427

Black

3.91

713

0.44

12.7

2.65

Choice -

Joe Meek

Pulaski

430

Black

3.03

791

0.12

13.6

1.65

Choice CAB

A.C. Shackelford

Albemarle

294

Black

4.06

22.0

749

0.47

14.6

2.26

Choice -

A.C. Shackelford

Albemarle

296

Black

3.86

21.4

756

0.46

13.5

2.59

Choice -

Terry Slusher

Floyd

217

BWF

5.45

15.4

834

0.14

14.3

1.62

Choice -

Terry Slusher

Floyd

221

BWF

5.47

16.6

806

0.15

14.8

1.38

Choice -

Terry Slusher

Floyd

228

Gray

3.88

17.5

815

0.40

14.2

2.56

Choice

Smitten Farm

Fauquier

258

BWF

4.00

15.1

732

0.41

13.1

2.62

Choice -

Smitten Farm

Fauquier

260

Black

4.23

14.5

730

0.14

14.1

1.32

Choice -

Smitten Farm

Fauquier

261

Black

3.49

14.9

691

0.13

12.5

1.55

Choice -

Smitten Farm

Fauquier

265

Black

4.73

15.4

769

0.15

13.8

1.59

Choice -

Smitten Farm

Fauquier

270

Black

3.51

14.4

673

0.48

14.5

2.02

Choice

Jim Sponaugle

Highland

498

Black

4.21

16.8

826

0.43

15.5

2.26

Choice -

Averages

4.01

15.7

766

0.27

13.3

2.14

Choice -

Youth exhibiting steers as 4-H and FFA projects are also eligible to receive recognition for producing "Industry Target Steers." At those shows that collect carcass information, the data is analyzed to identify those steers that meet the criteria. For the Virginia State Fair the minimum average daily gain requirement is waived.

1998 Virginia Youth "Industry Target" Steers

Exhibitor

County

Show Location

Avg. Daily Gain

Carc. Wt.

Back Fat (in.)

Ribeye Area (sq. in.)

Yield Grade

Quality Grade

Randy Hunt

Highland

Highland Co.

4.10

768

0.30

15.7

1.60

Choice -

Mike Sponaugle

Highland

Highland Co.

3.40

749

0.30

13.8

2.15

Choice

Casey Ralston

Highland

Highland Co.

3.08

644

0.30

12.3

2.20

Choice -

Payton Doyle

Greensville

VA State Fair

n/a

792

0.20

14.3

1.83

Choice -

Jennifer Payne

Loudoun

VA State Fair

n/a

768

0.40

14.0

2.34

Choice

Chelsea Wieben

Loudoun

VA State Fair

n/a

829

0.35

13.5

2.71

Choice +

Jason Wiles

Frederick

VA State Fair

n/a

850

0.20

15.1

2.00

Choice

Jamie Beamer

Loudoun

VA State Fair

n/a

731

0.35

14.1

2.14

Choice -

J. T. Begoon

Augusta

VA State Fair

n/a

751

0.30

13.7

2.32

Choice -

Joshua Wynkoop

Loudoun

VA State Fair

n/a

794

0.25

13.4

2.25

Choice -

Averages

768

0.30

14.0

2.15

Choice -

VPF Youth Convention & 4-H Contest Date Change
The Virginia Poultry Federation Youth Convention and State 4-H Judging Contest has had to change dates. The activity will now take place on May 7, 1999, due to a conflict at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds.

Please make note of this change.

Pre-registration is required. Contact: Phillip J. Clauer 540-231-9185 or pclauer@vt.edu for more information